A simple and sensitive method of analysis for histamine,putrescine, and polyamines without the use of an amino acid analyzer

Histamine, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in rat tissues and human urine were separated on a CM-cellulose column (0.6 × 10 cm). These amines in the chromatographic eluate were determined by the reactions with o-phthalaldehyde (for histamine), fluorescamine, o-phthalaldehyde-mercaptoethanol, or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (for putrescine and polyamines). The procedures are rapid and simple when popular instruments are used. The limits of determination by the present method were of the order of 0.1 to 0.2 nmol for histamine and 2 to 4 nmol for putrescine and polyamines.